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Man charged with threatening paralyzed Clairton police officer

Irvin Glaze arrested after unrelated incident in Allegheny County Courthouse

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Updated: 11:41 AM EDT Oct 2, 2012

James Kuzak talks with Channel 4 Action News

Man charged with threatening paralyzed Clairton police officer

Irvin Glaze arrested after unrelated incident in Allegheny County Courthouse

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Updated: 11:41 AM EDT Oct 2, 2012

PITTSBURGH —

A Wilkinsburg man accused of threatening Clairton police Officer James Kuzak outside the Allegheny County Courthouse was ordered Tuesday to stand trial.

According to the county sheriff's department, 43-year-old Irvin Glaze was waiting for an unrelated court appearance when he saw Kuzak in his wheelchair on Fifth Avenue in downtown Pittsburgh on Aug. 27.

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"I said, 'How you doing?' And he's like, 'Better off than you,' and I said, 'I don't see it that way,' and he took offense to that," Kuzak told Channel 4 Action News reporter Bob Hazen.

Kuzak said he kept going, but heard Glaze following behind him and yelling, "and then he started telling me that he was going to kick me out of my chair, and what was I going to do then? He kept saying it with malice involved, and that's when I got a little nervous."

Kuzak said Glaze continued to yell at him and told him, "You did those boys wrong."

Earlier this month, 27-year-old Emilio Rivera and 19-year-old Marcus Andrejco were found not guilty of a shooting that paralyzed Kuzak from his waist down during a home invasion last year. Rivera was convicted of the home invasion itself.

Kuzak believed Glaze was about to get violent, so he got ready to defend himself and his girlfriend. "I thought I may have to use my firearm," he said.

But Glaze turned around and, after tending to business in another building, Kuzak said he filed a report at the sheriff's office about their encounter.

During that time, Glaze allegedly caused a courtroom disturbance during his case.

"He started to fight with the deputies, took a swing at one of them, missing him, and the deputies had to Tase him to get him under control," Sheriff's Lt. Jack Kearney said.

After the sheriff's office heard Kuzak's complaint, Glaze was charged him with simple assault, terroristic threats, harassment and disorderly conduct.

Glaze was also charged with aggravated assault, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct for the separate courtroom incident.